Production of multi-colored durable tipped effects on embossed fabrics



March 1957 R. s. BABIARZ ETAL 2,785,081

PRODUCTION OF MULTI-COLORED DURABLE TIPPED EFFECTS ON EMBOSSED FABRICS Filed Sept. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l m V g wrzzzy ATTORNEYS PRODUCTION OF MULTI-COLORED DURABLE TIPPED EFFECTS ON EMBOSSED FABRICS Application September 21, 1953, Serial No. 381,434

7 Claims. (Cl. 117-11) This invention relates to the production of multicolored durable tipped etfects on embossed fabrics.

it has been known to produce durable embossed finishes and it has been suggested to durably tip embossed fabrics by applying color to the outermost portions or tips of the embossings. These, however, have been single color applications.

This invention is directed to producing durable multicolored tipping effects in a simple and inexpensive manner.

In carrying out the invention, we first impregnate the fabric with a solution of thermosetting resin-forming materials, desirably in precondensate form, for which purpose any of the resins well known in this art for producing such durable embossed finishes may be employed, such, for example, as melamine type resins, urea type resins, and the like. The fabric is then squeezed to remove excess moisture and dried until it contains some moisture, preferably in the neighborhood of from 8% to 12%, or, alternatively, the fabric may be dried and conditioned by adding moisture, or dried and allowed to stand until it picks up moisture from the surrounding atmosphere by equilibrium, as is well known.

The fabric is now passed through the embossing calender, one bowl of which is composed of metal and has a pattern having a number of different distinct depths or levels engraved thereon, and the other of which is the socalled soft bow The metal bowl is heated, usually from about 225 F. to about 350 F.

The thus specially embossed fabric is now ready for the tipping operation, which will be later described. At this point it will only be stated that the tipping machine (such, for example, as a Dornbusch tipping machine) consists essentially of two rollers of suitable material which in this case, however, are mounted for adjustment toward and away from one another to vary the space therebetween. The color is applied to one of the rollers and is transferred to the tips of the face of the fabric, i. e., that face of the fabric which is next to the steel bowl in passage through the calender. As will later appear, the color paste also contains thermosetting resin forming material such as before mentioned.

After the fabric has been tipped, it is then subjected to a heat treatment to cure, set or polymerize the resins to the insoluble stage whereby to fix the embossed pattern and the color.

In the accompanying drawings (Figs. 1 and 2). we have diagrammatically illustrated, in exaggerated form, an embossed fabric typical of this invention, fromv which the mode of operation may be understood {e S ates Patent Fig. 3 is a flow sheet schematically illustrating one embodiment of the disclosed process for imparting multicolored tipping effects to embossed patterns.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged exaggerated schematic illustrations of two different passes by an embossed fabric, such as shown in Fig. 2, through a tipping machine. In Fig. 4 the tipping machine rollers are spaced apart sothat only the highest level is color tipped and in Fig. 5 the tipping machine rollers are spaced apart so that the highest and intermediate levels are color tipped, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Figs. 4a and 5a are schematic plan views of the fabric after passing through the tipping machines in Figs. 4 and 5 respectively.

It will be seen that in the case of the embossed fabric as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the embossing has tips lying in four distinct levels, a topmost level A, a lower level B, a still lower level C, and a still lower level D which constitutes what might be called the base of the fabric. it will be understood, of course, that the pattern may otherwise be of any configuration desired. The number of passes through the tipping machine will depend upon the number of levels it is desired to color.

On the first run through the tipping machine (as for example shown in Fig. 4), the tipping rollers are spaced apart so as to exert light pressure only on tips lying in the outermost level A (Fig. 4a), the color being transferred from the printing roller as described. The fabric is now desirably dried. On the next run (schematically illustrated in Fig. 5) a different color may be applied to the printing roll; and the tipping rollers are now placed more closely together so that the color roll will reach the tips lying in the next lower level B and transfer the color. This is desirably followed by drying. In this run the tips in level A will, of course, be overcolored (Fig. 5a). On the next run, the rollers are set still more closely together so as to reach the tips of the next lower level C and again desirably dried. The tipsof levels A and B will be over-colored by the color used in tipping the tips of level C. Usually level D which carries the base color of the fabric, is not colored by the tipping machine. The drying may be done, for example, by passage between hot steam plates or by a loop drier, so that enough drying is accomplished to prevent smearing during batching.

The procedure may be reversed, and the initial setting of the tipping rollers be made such as to reach the tips of level C and then adjusted to reach to the tips of level B, and again adjusted to reach to the tips of level A.

Very beautiful effects can thus be obtained, and these efiects will be durable.

Curiously, we have found that although at the time of passage through the tipping machine, the resin with which the fabric has been impregnated before the embossing operation, is not yet cured, the embossed pattern and the physical deformation of the fibers of the yarns which have been imparted by the calender are not destroyed or impaired by the tipping operation. Hence, in the subsequent heat treatment or curing step, the curing of the resin in the fabric and in the paste, not only fixes the pattern and the physical deformation imparted by the embossing calender, i. e., so that they remain durable to repeated washings and dry cleanings, but also V the resin, driers, softeners, water, and the like.

renders the color tipping durable to washings and dry cleanings.

The paste containing the color pigment and the resin,

is of the character largely used in conventional printing the construction '3980/8'04.00 was impregnated with the following resin solution and frame dried to approximately 10% moisture content.

Resloom .HP lbs 40 Resloom M-75 u do 40 Aerotex H do. 20 PVA V do Catalyst AC do Total '(water to make) "gals-.. 100

2. It was then embossed using a three level pattern at a-speed of about 20 yds./min. and a temperature of 375 F. of the metal bowlof the embossing calender. '3. 'l'ipped on'the tipping machine using the following color formula:

. Pounds PVA'72-6O (11% solution) 49 Aerotex -M-3 (melamine resin) 12 Aridye Padding Red B Ammonia Ahcovel G i 7 Catalyst AC Water V 3 Total' 100 The pressure setting of the pair of tipping rollers was first adjusted so as to cover the outermost level of the embossed fabric. This setting coloredthe top level of the embossing as well as the dotted effect of the lower level. V e

The speed was about 20 yds/min. and the fabric was dried after tipping in acontinuous manner by passing between twohot steam plates. e

4. The fabric was rerun through the same machine using the same printing formulation except the Aridye Padding Red B was replaced by Aridye Padding Blue 26.

This time the pressure of the rollers was adjusted so as to color only the next level of the embossed fabric. Drying was similar to the previous run.

5. The fabric was cured for 3 minutes at 300 F., washed and dried in a slack (non-tension) drier.

The result was a durable .two colored embossed fabric.

In the foregoing illustrative example Resloom HP is dimethylol melamine, Resloom IVE-75 is a dimethylol trimethylol melamine (66% solids), Aerotex H is a cationic softener (afatty chain modified melamine resin), lVA is polyvinyl alcohol, Catalyst AC is. methyl by- V droxy propanolamine hydrochloride, Aerotex M-3 is dimethyl trimethylol melamine, Aridye Padding Red B" is a red organic (phthalocyanine) pigment dispersion,

Aridye Padding Blue 26 is a blue organicyfihthalocyanine) pigment dispersion and Ahcovel G is a s-dif- (Z-stearoamidothyD] urea monoacetate.

While the fabric of the example is cotton, it will, of

' course, be understood that the process is applicable to othertypes, such, for example, as rayon, nylon, mixed goods, and the like. 7

For purposes. of facilitating understanding of the indepth, so that lateral shifting of the fabric, if any, with respect to the printing roll is, negligible.

We claim: V I

l. The method of imparting durable multi-colored tipping eifects to embossed fabrics which comprises first passing an embossed fabric through a color tipping machine to apply a heat hardenable resin paste of a first color to areas of the raised embossed portions of'said fabric, which are temporarily compressed during the first tipping operation, passing thethus treated fabric through a color tipping machine to apply a heat hardenable resin paste of a second color tothoseareas of the raised em-' bossed portions of :the fabric which are thereby temporarily compressed during the second tipping operation,

the degree of compression of the raised embossed pattern being different duringthe application of the first color than the degree of compression of the raised embossed pattern duringthe application of the second color, and thereafter heating the fabric to harden the resin.

2. The method of imparting durable multi-colored tipping eflfects to embossed fabrics which comprises imparting an embossed pattern effect to, a fabric, temporarily compressing portions of the raised embossed pattern and simultaneously applying thereto in the com-.

pressed areaseaheat hardenable resin paste of a first color, thereafter temporarily compressing portions of the raised embossed pattern and simultaneously applying thereto in the then compressed areas a heat'hardenable resin paste of a second color, the degree of compression of the raised embossed pattern being different during the application of the first color than-the degree of compression of the raised embossed pattern during the application of the second color, and thereafter heating the fabric to harden theresin.

3. The method of imparting durable multi-colore'd tipped embossed pattern effects to fabrics which comprises impregnating the fabric with a heat hardenable resin solution, drying the fabric to a moist condition,

passing the moist fabric through an embossing calender simultaneously applying theretoin the then compressed areas-alheat hardenable resin paste of a second color, the'degree'of compression of the raised embossed pattern beingdifierent during the application of the first color than the degree of compression of the raised embossed pattern during the application of the second color, and

thereafter heating the fabric to harden theresin.

4. The method of imparting durable multi-colored tipping eifects to'embossed fabrics which comprises first passing an embossedfabric through a color tipping machine .to apply a heat hardenable resin paste of a first color to areas of the .raised embossed portions of said fabric, which aretemporarily compressed during the first tipping operation, drying the fabric, passing the thus treated fabric through a color tipping machine to apply a heat hardenable resin paste of a second color to those areas of the raised embossed portions of the fabric which are thereby temporarily compressed during the second tipping operation,'the degree'o'f compression of the raised embossed pattern being difiercnt during the application of the first color than'the degree ofcompression of the I raised embossed pattern during the application of the second color, and thereafter heating the fabric to harden the resin.

'51 The process of 'claim wherein the fabric is emand thereafter applying a second color to the tips which lie at a lower level while over-coloring the previously colored high tips.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein the fabric is embossed with a pattern in which the raised tip portions of the pattern lie in at least two distinct and diflering levels, applying the first color simultaneously to the tips which lie in at least two of the difiering levels, and thereafter overcoloring with a different color only those tips which lie at a higher level.

7. An embossed fabric in which the raised portions of the embossed pattern have tips which lie in at least two difierent and distinct levels with respect to the fabric ground and wherein the tips at different levels are colored with different durable colors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. THE METHOD OF IMPARTING DURABLE MULTI-COLRED TIPPING EFFECTS TO EMBOSSED FABRICS WHICH COMPRISES FIRST PASSING AN EMBOOSED FABRIC THROUGH A COLOR TIPPING MACHINE TO APPLY A HEAT HARDENABLE RESIN PASTE OF A FIRST COLOR TO AREAS OF THE RAISED EMBOSSED PORTIONS OF SAID FABRIC, WHICH ATE TEMPORARILY COMPRESSED DURING THE FIRST TIPPING OPERATION, PASSING THE THUS TREATED FABRIC THROUGH A COLOR TIPPING MACHINE TO APPLY A HEAT HARDENABLE RESIN PASTE OF A SECOND COLOR TO THOSE AREAS OF THE RAISED EMBOSSED PORTIONS OF THE FABRIC WHICH ARE THEREBY TEMPORARILY COMPRESSED DURING THE SECOND TIPPING OPERATION, THE DEGREE OF COMPRESSION OF THE RAISED EMBOSSED PATTERN BEING DIFFERENT DURING THE APPLICATION OF THE FIRST COLOR THAN THE DEGREE OF COMPRESSION OF THE RAISED EMBOSSED PATTERN DURING THE APPLICATION OF THE SECOND COLOR, AND THEREAFTER HEATING THE FABRIC TO HARDEN THE RESIN 